Man dies after 'Fast and Furious' driving stunt in Crystal Lake

3 charged over fatal attempt to recreate 'Fast and Furious' maneuvers

A Hoffman Estates man died after he and his friends attempted driving stunts in a Crystal Lake parking lot, officials said.

Austin Watts, 20, was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. Saturday. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to the McHenry County coroner's office.

Watts allegedly was riding on the rooftops of two vehicles Thursday evening while they performed dangerous driving maneuvers featured in "The Fast and The Furious" movie series before he fell off and struck his head on the pavement of the Walmart parking lot, 1205 S. Illinois Highway 31 in Crystal Lake, police said.

Police tried to airlift him to a hospital but were hampered by weather conditions. He was taken in critical condition by ambulance to Centegra Hospital in McHenry, where he later died.

"What this boils down to is that these people were bored and wanted to entertain themselves," Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Eugene Lowery said. "So they went to Walmart and used their vehicles in a manner that might be reflective of the movies."

Investigators later determined that a Chevrolet Impala driven by Stephen D. Gallagher, 20, of Schaumburg; a Dodge Neon driven by Eva M. Carlock, 18, of Crystal Lake; and a Dodge Caravan driven by a 17-year-old Crystal Lake girl were simultaneously driving recklessly in the parking lot around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, according to police.

Watts was injured while he was riding on top of the Impala, Lowery said.

Gallagher was charged with a felony count of reckless conduct involving great bodily harm and misdemeanor reckless driving. Carlock was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving, reckless conduct and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The 17-year-old was charged with reckless driving and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.